Applique attachment on casting

ABSTRACT

An autonomous vehicle and related method include, at each corner of the vehicle, a module including a cast frame configured to mount on a corner component of the autonomous vehicle, and an applique connected directly to the cast frame, wherein the applique covers at least part of the cast frame and defines a portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles include a variety of sensors for sensing an externalenvironment around the vehicle. Some of these sensors are used to helpoperate the vehicle. In vehicles where the operator is driving,information from these sensors may cause a warning to be given to theoperator, or may cause a control system to temporarily regulator of oneor more controls of the vehicle to modify its operation (e.g. laneassist or forward collision avoidance). In vehicles that have anautonomous control function, information from these sensors may be usedby a control system to navigate the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect, an autonomous vehicle module includes a castframe configured to mount on a corner of an autonomous vehicle; and anapplique connected directly to the cast frame such that the appliquecovers at least part of the cast frame and defines a portion of anoutside surface of the autonomous vehicle.

According to another aspect, an autonomous vehicle includes at eachcorner, a module comprising a cast frame mounted on a corner componentof the autonomous vehicle; and an applique connected directly to thecast frame such that the applique covers at least part of the cast frameand defines a portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle.

According to another aspect, a method of making an autonomous vehicleincludes providing a module including a cast frame, and an appliqueconnected directly to the cast frame such that the applique covers atleast a part of the cast frame. The method includes mounting the moduleat a corner of the autonomous vehicle by connecting the cast frame to acorner component of the autonomous vehicle such that the appliquedefines a portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle.

According to another aspect, an autonomous vehicle module includes acast frame configured to mount on a corner of an autonomous vehicle; anda plurality of sensors mounted on the cast frame, the plurality ofsensors being configured to sense an environment around the autonomousvehicle and to communicate data about the environment to a navigationsystem of the autonomous vehicle for navigating the autonomous vehicle.

According to another aspect, an autonomous vehicle includes, at eachcorner, a sensor module. The sensor module includes a cast frame mountedon a corner component of the autonomous vehicle; and a plurality ofsensors mounted on the cast frame, the plurality of sensors sensing anenvironment around the autonomous vehicle and communicating data aboutthe environment to a navigation system of the autonomous vehicle. Thenavigation system navigates the autonomous vehicle based on the data.

According to another aspect, a method of operating an autonomous vehicleincludes providing, at each corner the autonomous vehicle, a sensormodule including a cast frame mounted on a corner component of theautonomous vehicle, and a plurality of sensors mounted on an inboardside and an outboard side of the cast frame, the plurality of sensorsincluding a lidar, a near field sensor, a radar, a camera, and a SPAM;sensing, with the plurality of sensors, an environment around theautonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operating;communicating data about the environment from the plurality of sensorsto a navigation system of the autonomous vehicle; and navigating theautonomous vehicle based on the data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an inboard side elevation view of a front right sensor moduleaccording to the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 is an outboard side elevation view of a front left sensor modulemounted to an autonomous vehicle according to the present subjectmatter.

FIG. 3 is an inboard side elevation view of a rear right sensor moduleaccording to the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 is an outboard side elevation view of a rear left sensor modulemounted to an autonomous vehicle according to the present subjectmatter.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the rear left sensor module of FIG. 4taken along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is an upper rear right perspective view of a plurality of sensorsas arranged on the rear right sensor module of FIG. 3 without showingthe frame.

FIG. 7 is an upper rear left perspective view of a plurality of sensorsas arranged on the rear left sensor module of FIG. 3 without showing theframe.

FIG. 8 is a top schematic view of a vehicle including four sensormodules according to the present subject matter.

FIG. 9 is a top schematic view of a sensor module and appliques beingattached to a vehicle corner component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, a sensor module 2 is provided for mounting toa vehicle 4. The sensor module 2 may be mounted to any part of thevehicle 4, and optionally to one or more corners 6 of the vehicle 4. Asseen in FIG. 8 , the vehicle 4 includes a plurality (i.e., four) ofsensor modules 2 respectively attached to each of the corners 6 (e.g.forward right corner 6A, forward left corner 6B, rearward right corner6C, rearward left corner 6D) of the vehicle 4. More or less sensormodules 2 can be mounted on the vehicle 4 and at different locationsthan at a corner 6.

The vehicle 4 may be a one that is under complete driver control, or anautonomous vehicle with one or more functions of the vehicle 4 beingautonomously controlled by a controller/navigation system 8 of thevehicle 4. If the vehicle 4 is an autonomous vehicle, a level of controlexerted by the controller/navigation system 8 on the autonomous vehicle4 may range from level 1 to level 5 as defined by the Society ofAutomotive Engineers (SAE). The vehicle 4 may be a fully autonomousvehicle (i.e. level 5). The vehicle 4 may be an autonomous motor vehiclehaving a function of movement along a roadway.

The vehicle 4 may include one or more sensor modules 2. In onenon-limiting example, the vehicle 4 includes four sensor modules 2, witheach of four corners 6 of the vehicle 4 having a respective sensormodule 2 mounted thereto. If more than one sensor module 2 is used, theplurality of sensor modules 2 may be identical to, or different from,one or more of the other sensor modules 2. In one non-limiting example,two front sensor modules, i.e. a front left sensor module 2A and a frontright sensor module 2B are arranged on respective right and left forwardcorners 6A, 6B of the vehicle 4, and two rear sensor modules, i.e. arear left sensor module 2C and a rear right sensor module 2D arearranged on respective right and left rearward corners 6C, 6D of thevehicle 4. The two front sensor modules 2A, 2B may be identical to eachother except for being mirror arrangements of each other. The two rearsensor modules 2C, 2D may be identical to each other except for beingmirror arrangements of each other, but may be different from the twofront sensor modules 2A, 2B.

Each sensor module 2 includes a frame 10, by which the sensor module 2is mounted to the one or more corners 6 of the vehicle 4. The frame 10may be mounted onto the corner 6 of the vehicle 4 with fasteners (e.g.bolts), by welding, by adhesive, etc. The frame 10 may be attached to acorner component 70 of the vehicle 4, e.g. a vehicle frame member orbody panel located at the corner 6 of the vehicle 4. The frame 10 may bean elongated body, which is attached to the vehicle 4 only at itsproximal end 12, longitudinally extending out like an arm away from thevehicle 4, and terminating at an opposite distal end 14 (FIG. 9 ).

The frame 10 may be made of any material including but not limited tometal, polymer, wood, ceramic, glass, carbon, and composites andcombinations thereof. The frame 10 may include one or more pieces madeby any process including but not limited to casting, machining, molding,extrusion, stamping, rolling, additive manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing),cutting, or combinations thereof. The frame 10 may include metal and maybe formed by high pressure die casting, and thus may be a high pressuredie cast frame 10. The high pressure die casting may be performed at1000 bar or more. The frame 10 may be solid or hollow.

When mounted to the vehicle 4, the elongate frame 10 may extend/projectaway from the vehicle 4 in a generally forward or backward direction asdepicted in FIG. 8 . When mounted to the vehicle 4, the frame 10 has aninboard side 20 and an outboard side 22. The sensor module 2 includesone or more sensors 16 mounted on the frame 10. The sensors 16 may bemounted to the inboard side 20 and to the outboard side 22 of the frame10. The sensors 16 are mounted to the frame 10, and may be mounteddirectly to the frame 10, and thus the sensors 16 are only indirectlymounted to the remainder of the vehicle 4 via the frame 10. The sensors16 may be provided power for their operation from the vehicle 4, e.g.via a common electrical connection harness on the sensor module 2 thatconnects all the sensors 16 and all the other electronic components ofthe sensor module 2 to an electrical power source of the vehicle 4 via awired power connection, so as to provide power from the electrical powersource to the sensors 16 and other electronic components. The harnessmay also make a wired communication connection with the navigationsystem 8 for communicating the sensed data about the environment 18 fromthe plurality of sensors 16 to the navigation system 8.

The sensors 16 are not particularly limited, and can include any kind ofsensor as desired. The sensors 16 may be configured to sense variousmeasurable characteristics of an external environment 18 around thevehicle 4. The sensors 16 may operate to sense the environment 18 whenthe vehicle 4 is being operated, such as when it is being driven on aroadway, and/or when the vehicle 4 is not being operated, such as whenit is parked.

The sensors 16 may include a lidar 24, a radar 26, a camera 28, anear-field sensor 30, a SPAM 32, a microphone (not shown), other sensorsfor sensing the environment 18, multiples thereof, or combinationsthereof.

The sensors 16 may be configured to sense the environment 18 andcommunicate sensed data about the environment 18 to thecontroller/navigation system 8 of the vehicle 4. This sensed data may beused by the controller 8 in a vehicle with complete driver control forissuing a warning to the driver, or this sensed data may be used by thenavigation system 8 in an autonomous vehicle 4 for the navigating theautonomous vehicle 4 or controlling one or more functions (e.g. movementalong a roadway) of the vehicle 4. The sensors 16 may be incommunication with the controller/navigation system 8 through one ormore wired or wireless communication connections 34, which areschematically depicted in FIG. 8 .

In a non-limiting example, the sensor module 2 includes a spinning lidar24, which may be mounted to a top of the frame 10. The lidar 24 mayinclude a plate 44 one which nozzles 46 are mounted, the nozzles 46being configured to spray a cleaning fluid on an exterior of the lidar24 to keep the exterior of the lidar 24 clean, which may affect properfunctioning of the lidar 24. The lidar 24 may be configured todetermining ranges (variable distance) by targeting an object or asurface in the environment 18 with a laser and measuring the time forthe reflected light to return to a receiver of the lidar 24. It can alsobe used to make digital 3-D representations of the environment 18.

The sensor module 2 module may include two high resolution radars 26(e.g. 4D imaging radar), which may be respectively mounted on theinboard side 20 and the outboard side 22 of the frame 10. Thehigh-resolution radars 26 may be used to provide detailed image data ofthe environment in a wide field of view, detect obstacles on the side ofa road, detect smaller targets, such as a person or a bike, even if theyare somewhat masked by a large object, such as a tree or truck,determine whether detected objects are moving, in which direction, andprovide real-time situational data.

The sensor module 2 module may include two surround cameras 28A, and twomedium resolution cameras 28B with baffles. The two surround cameras 28Amay be respectively mounted on the inboard side 20 and the outboard side22 of the frame 10, and may provide data used to produce a surroundimage of the vehicle 4. The two medium resolution cameras 28B may berespectively mounted on the inboard side 20 and the outboard side 22 ofthe frame 10, and may provide data used for object classification, sceneunderstanding or tasks that rely on color perception like traffic lightor sign recognition.

The sensor module 2 module may include two near-field sensors 30, whichmay be respectively mounted on the inboard side 20 and outboard side 22of the frame 10. The sensor module 2 may include SPAM 32.

The sensor module 2 module may include a microphone (not shown) mountedon the frame 10 for sensing sound data from the environment 18, such asfrom sirens of an emergency vehicle.

The sensor module 2 module may include other electronic ornon-electronic components, which are not particularly limited and can bemounted on the frame 10. The various other electronic or non-electroniccomponents can be connected to a vehicle power source of the vehicle 4.These other electronic or non-electronic components may include, but arenot limited to, an ethernet switch 36, a fan 38, a display 40, amanifold 42, multiples thereof, or combinations thereof.

The ethernet switch 36 may be in communication with each of the sensors16 via a wired or wireless communication connection, such that data fromthe sensors 16 (i.e. sensed data) about the environment 18 may betransmitted from the sensors 16 to the ethernet switch 36. The ethernetswitch 36 may then transmit the data about the environment to thecontroller/navigation system 8 via the wired or wireless communicationconnection 34, and the controller/navigation system 8 may use the dataabout the environment to control one or more functions of the vehicle 4(e.g. movement along a roadway). The ethernet switch 36 may be mountedon the inboard side 20 of the frame 10 near the proximal end 12, and incommunication with the various sensors 16 via a communicationconnection.

Two fans 38 may be mounted on the frame 10 for circulating a cooling gas(e.g. air) around the sensor module 2 to cool the other variouscomponents mounted the frame 10. The two fans 38 may be respectivelymounted on the inboard side 20 and the outboard side 22 of the frame 10.One of the two fans 38 may push air towards the other various componentsand the other pull air away from the other various components mounted onthe frame 10.

An XMI display 40 may be mounted on the outboard side 22 of the frame10, e.g. opposite from the ethernet switch 36. The XMI display 40 may beused to display an image, e.g. numbers, letters, pictures, etc. Theimage is displayed so as to be seen from the environment 18, e.g. theoutboard side of the vehicle 4. The image is not particularly limited,and may convey various information, including for example, informationthat is associated with the vehicle 4 or with a particular intendedpassenger of the vehicle 4 so that the intended passenger can identifythe vehicle 4 from among other vehicles.

The manifold 42 may be mounted to a bottom of the frame 10, and may beconfigured to direct and disperse the cleaning fluid to the variousnozzles 46 of the lidar 24 via respective fluid lines 48 connectedbetween them. The manifold 42 may be supplied with cleaning fluid via afluid connection with a cleaning fluid source of the vehicle 4.

The sensor module 2 may include one or more appliques 50 (FIG. 9 ), eachor which may be connected directly to the frame 10. When attached to theframe 10, the one or more appliques 50 may cover at least part of asensor 16 and/or at least part of the cast frame 10, and may define aportion of an outside surface 62 of the sensor module 2. When the sensormodule 2 is connected to the vehicle 4, the one or more appliques 50 mayalso define a portion of an outside surface 64 of the vehicle 4. In thisway, the one or more appliques 50 may each act as exterior body panel 66of the sensor module 2 and of the vehicle 4.

When the sensor module 2 includes a plurality of appliques 50, theplurality of appliques 50 may connect or overlap with each other so asto form a continuous or semi-continuous outer covering of the sensormodule 2. The covering or appliques may separate, cover, hide, and/orprotect underlying components of the sensor module 2 (e.g. the frame 10and/or sensors 16) from the exterior environment 18, including coveredportions of the frame 10 and covered portions of the sensors 16. The oneor more appliques 50 may inhibit water, sunlight, or other environmentalfactors from contacting, reaching, or effecting the components of thesensor module 2 underlying the one or more appliques 50. The one or moreappliques 50 may not cover all of the frame 10 or sensors 16, or may notcover an entire individual sensor 16. For example, a portion of theframe 10 may be exposed, e.g. before the module 2 is mounted on a corner6 of the vehicle 4. Moreover, the lidar 24 may be exposed above, ratherthan be underneath, the covering formed by the one or more appliques orthe covering formed by the one or more appliques 50 may include ordefine an opening through which a sensor 16 (e.g. the camera 28) cansense the environment 18. The covering may be formed by two or moreappliques 50, where one is attached to the inboard side 20 and anotheris attached to the outboard side 22 of the frame and the two areconnected together to form a seal 68 between them, and optionallybetween them and exterior body panel 66 of the vehicle 4, that inhibitsenvironmental factors from reaching the underlying components of thesensor module 2.

The frame 10 may include one or more openings 54 with which the one ormore respective fasteners 52 are attached. The opening 54 may be athrough hole or a blind hold, which may be cast, machined, or otherwiseformed into the frame. The fastener 52 may be permanently or removablyconnected to the frame 10 by engaging with the opening 54, and mayengage with the opening 54 by being inserted into the opening 54. Thefastener 52 may removably connect with the opening 54 by snapping orclipping into the opening 54. The fastener 52 may be part of a one-piececonstructions with the applique 50, or the fastener 52 may be separateand distinct from the applique 50 and be connected to the applique 50.As seen in FIG. 5 , the fastener 52 is separate and distinct from theapplique 50. The fastener 52 includes a head portion 56 that is insertedthrough a through hole 58 in the applique 50 and includes a shaftportion 60 that is inserted into the opening 54 in the frame 10 tothereby directly connect the applique 50 to the frame 10. In FIG. 5 ,the applique 50 is in contact with the frame 10, however, this is notrequired and the applique 50 may be spaced from the frame 10, e.g. by aspacer.

The applique 50 is directly connected to the frame 10, which directconnection may be accomplished in different ways than by using thefastener 52 engaging the opening 54, such as for example, by usingadhesive, welding, friction fit, clips, snaps, bindings, etc.

The applique 50 may be made of any material including but not limited tometal, polymer, wood, ceramic, glass, carbon, and composites andcombinations thereof. The applique 50 may include one or more piecesmade by any process including but not limited to casting, machining,molding, extrusion, stamping, rolling, additive manufacturing (e.g. 3Dprinting), cutting, or combinations thereof. The applique 50 may includea polymer and may be formed by injection molding.

When attached to the frame 10, the one or more appliques 50 may cover atleast a part of the frame 10 and/or part of the one or more sensors 16,and may cover the entirety of frame 10 and the one or more sensors 16.Alternatively, the one or more appliques 50 may cover only a part of theframe 10 and/or the one or more sensors 16. The covered part of theframe 10 and/or the sensor 16 may therefore be separated from theenvironment 18 by the applique 50. When attached to the frame 10, theone or more appliques 50 close out an exterior of the vehicle 4. Inother words, the one or more appliques 50 form at least a portion of anexterior surface of the module 2 and form at least a portion of anexterior surface of the vehicle 4. In this way, the one or moreappliques 50 may inhibit environmental factors, such as moisture, dirt,and radiation, from reaching the one or more sensors 16 and/or the frame10 and thus may inhibit their degradation. If a fan 38 is included, thefan may operate to circulate air underneath the applique(s) 50 andaround the other components attached to the frame 10 and around theframe 10 itself for cooling of the sensors 16 or drying of the frame 10.

A method of making an autonomous vehicle 4 includes providing aplurality of modules 2, each including the cast frame 10 and an applique50 connected directly to the cast frame 10 such that the applique 50covers at least a part of the cast frame 10. The method includesmounting one of the plurality of modules 2 at each corner 6 of theautonomous vehicle 4 by connecting the cast frame 10 to a cornercomponent of the autonomous vehicle 4 such that the applique 50 definesa portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle 4.

A method of operating an autonomous vehicle 4 may include providing, ateach corner of the autonomous vehicle, a sensor module 2 including thecast frame mounted on a corner component 70 of the autonomous vehicle 4,and a plurality of sensors 16 mounted on an inboard side 20 and anoutboard side 22 of the cast frame 10. The plurality of sensors includesa lidar 24, a near field sensor 30, a radar 26, a camera 28, and a SPAM32. The method includes sensing, with the plurality of sensors 16, anenvironment 18 around the autonomous vehicle 4 while the autonomousvehicle 4 is operating (e.g. traveling along a roadway); communicatingsensed data about the environment 18 from the plurality of sensors 16 tothe navigation system 8 of the autonomous vehicle 4; and navigating theautonomous vehicle 4 based on the sensed data using the navigationsystem 8.

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may bedesirably combined into many other different systems or applications.Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequentlymade by those skilled in the art which are also intended to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. An autonomous vehicle module comprising: a cast frame configured to mount on a corner of an autonomous vehicle; and an applique connected directly to the cast frame, wherein the applique covers at least part of the cast frame and defines a portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle.
 2. The autonomous vehicle module according to claim 1, wherein: the cast frame is a high pressure die casting; the cast frame includes an opening cast into the cast frame; and the module further includes a fastener connecting the applique to the cast frame by being inserted into the opening in the cast frame.
 3. The autonomous vehicle module according to claim 2, wherein the fastener clips into the opening.
 4. The autonomous vehicle module according to claim 1, wherein: the applique contacts the cast frame; the applique is an injection molded part; and the applique separates a covered part of the cast frame from an environment surrounding the module.
 5. The autonomous vehicle module according to claim 1, wherein the applique is one of a plurality of appliques connected directly to the cast frame.
 6. The autonomous vehicle module according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of appliques form a seal that inhibits environmental factors from reaching the cast frame.
 7. An autonomous vehicle including at each corner, a module comprising: a cast frame mounted on a corner component of the autonomous vehicle; and an applique connected directly to the cast frame, wherein the applique covers at least part of the cast frame and defines a portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle.
 8. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 7, wherein: the cast frame includes an opening cast into the cast frame; and the autonomous vehicle further includes a fastener connecting the applique to the cast frame by being inserted into the opening.
 9. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the fastener clips into the opening.
 10. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 7, wherein: the applique contacts the cast frame; the applique is an injection molded part; and the applique separates a covered part of the cast frame from the environment.
 11. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the applique is one of a plurality of appliques connected directly to the cast frame.
 12. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the cast frame is a high pressure die casting.
 13. The autonomous vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the autonomous vehicle is an autonomous motor vehicle.
 14. A method of making an autonomous vehicle comprising: providing a module including: a cast frame, and an applique connected directly to the cast frame, wherein the applique covers at least a part of the cast frame; and mounting the module at a corner of the autonomous vehicle by connecting the cast frame to a corner component of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the applique defines a portion of an outside surface of the autonomous vehicle.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: the cast frame includes an opening cast into the cast frame; and the module includes a fastener connecting the applique to the cast frame by being inserted into the opening.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the fastener clips into the opening.
 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein: the applique contacts the cast frame; the cast frame is a high pressure die casting; the applique is an injection molded part; and the applique separates a covered part of the cast frame from the environment.
 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the applique is one of a plurality of appliques connected directly to the cast frame.
 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein: the module is one of a plurality of modules; the corner is one of a plurality of corners of the autonomous vehicle; and the method further includes respectively mounting a remainder of the plurality of modules on a remainder of the plurality of corners.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, on each of the plurality of modules: the applique separates a covered part of the cast frame from the environment; the cast frame includes an opening cast into the cast frame; and a fastener connects the applique to the cast frame by being clipped into the opening. 